Last Monday, Black Student Union (BSU) along with Brother II Brother and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. held a very insightful and fruitful program informing minority students how to achieve success among their peers in larger institutions.
This program featured motivational speaker Rev. Michael Robinson, who currently teaches at Temple University and has a Masters in Counselling. While conversing with the President of Black Student Union, Yusuf Hayes, the top five points for minority students to achieve success were discussed.
They were: to stand out and break African American stereotypes, mentor one another, don’t be afraid to get help and utilize your resources provided, take advantage of your education, and to remember that everyone struggles.
The theme of the program was to “thrive.” An important point made by Rev. Michael Robinson was that minority students must continue to thrive, even when they feel themselves getting comfortable with a particular level of success previously achieved and to continue to elevate themselves and do not allow for laziness.
The program began with Robinson engaging with the audience which was predominantly male, gathering names, and building similarities with the Greek life present.
As his lecture progressed, one thing that remained prevalent was to “make minorities understand that we need to make this our campus as well. Speak up on any injustices because you are paying for the same education,” stated Hayes.[pullquote align=”center”]The program served as a reminder for all students to seek their full potential.[/pullquote]
In closing, the program ended with a Q+A session to gain more comprehension as to why minority students tend to fall behind in involvement and credentials as opposed to their fellow peers who are considered the majority. Though minorities were the focus of this program, the advice and wisdom discussed to attain success is universal and welcomes diversity for the whole student body at West Chester University.
The program served as a reminder for all students to seek their full potential and to “embrace diversity, don’t be silent, go to programs, step outside of your comfort zone, get to know others, and make connections,” added Hayes.
Many of the BSU programs consist of sharing experiences, raising the level of consciousness about the Black community, and relating the experiences to the world.
As the semester comes to an end, on April 30, BSU will hold their Black Carpet Affair event in Sykes Ballroom from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on May 1 the Ball for a Cause event will be held in the purple gym from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.; this will consist of four causes: juvenile diabetes, HIV, Lupus, and Aneurisms.
If you are interested on becoming a part of this organization, programs are held every Wednesday in Sykes 10A at 7:15 p.m.
Thierra Walker is a second-year student majoring in communications with a minor in creative writing. She can be reached at TW804496@wcupa.edu.